Club Zombie 1-4

by Z. Allora

  Sighing, Cutter said, “Zombies start transitioning at nineteen.”

  “I know. So, you were transitioning into being a zombie?”

  “Um, no. Uli and Alex were zombies, and we did the exchange to become mates. Zombies stop aging at twenty-three. A lot stops at twenty-three, which is why zombies are compelled to find their mates.”

  Ethan put a hand out. “He doesn’t need to know about mate stuff.”

  Anger flashed through Erick. Wasn’t he good enough to be someone’s mate? “Why not?”

  “It doesn’t concern you.” The edge in Ethan’s voice cut into Erick’s heart. “But what does worry me is you dressing like a girl. You know what Father would do—”

  “I’m nonbinary. That means I don’t identify with the binary of male or female. However, I’m more of the transfeminine variety.”

  Ethan shook his head, maybe to reorder the rocks in it. “You’re a guy. What’s with all the drama?”

  Why did he bother? Erick stood. “Well, this has been fun.”

  Ulrich jumped off the couch. “Don’t leave. Stay for lunch. And we have the guest room ready for you, and—”

  “Thanks, Uli, but I’m going to keep staying with Cassidy.” He hoped that would be all right with Cassidy. If not, he’d find a hotel or drive back to school.

  “Cassidy,” Ethan growled, matching his scowl.

  Erick refused to continue to be a doormat for anyone. “See ya.” He waved and didn’t look back as he waltzed out the door. He beelined back to Cassidy’s apartment.

  When he opened the stairwell door to the floor Cassidy’s apartment was on, Cassidy leaned against the doorframe. He spread his arms for Erick to fall into.

  Erick didn’t resist the need to hug him. He breathed in roses and Cassidy, whose hair curled with dampness, probably from a shower.

  Cassidy whispered, “Just ’cause someone’s on the rainbow doesn’t mean they can’t be stupid and have their own prejudices. I’m sorry.”

  Erick’s nod morphed into a yawn. “I feel out of it.”

  “A lot has happened. Maybe a nap would help. Sometimes resting can help your mind unravel.”

  “That makes sense. I feel sleep would be good, but I’m not tired.”

  “You might be overtired. Maybe taking a bath would help.” Cassidy combed his fingers through Erick’s hair.

  Mmmm, he’d do a lot to keep this kind of attention. “I know it’s dumb, but I don’t want to be alone.”

  Cassidy opened his mouth and pressed his lips closed twice, but finally said, “I’ll stay with you.”

  Yes! There were too many ways to take that; though, no joke, Erick would be up for every interpretation.

  “I’ll start the tub.” Cassidy escaped to the bathroom.

  Erick followed close behind. “I keep meaning to tell you, your bathroom is spectacular.”

  “Beau insisted his team of renovators take on the space as practice. Ha, as if they needed warm-up projects. Though I’d never complain, because I love my turn-of-the-century Parisian Victorian bathroom.”

  The focal point was an old-fashioned, giant claw-foot tub with an exaggeratedly ornate silver faucet and an attached hand sprayer, which Erick had only seen in the movies. The black and white square marble tiles on the floor complemented the white on the walls. A crystal chandelier hung above the tub, which looked to be three times the size of a normal one. The bay windows allowed views while in the bath of the duck pond and the setting sun.

  “I rarely use the tub. I usually shower,” Cassidy said.

  “I don’t blame you. Great shower.” There must be a dozen showerheads and a ton of plants in planters on the walls.

  “Beau tricked out the stall to make the person taking the shower feel like they’re in a downpour in the rainforest.”

  “I’m just going to….” Erick pointed to the enclosed toilet area.

  “Um, sure.”

  Erick stepped into the cubicle. He shut the door behind him, did his business, undressed, and wrapped a huge white towel around himself.

  “You can leave your stuff next to the sink.”

  Erick folded his clothing into a pile and set the stack aside. “You mean your clothing.” Erick loved wearing Cassidy’s borrowed things.

  Cassidy had plugged the tub and started the water flowing, and then he fussed and adjusted the temperature. “Do you want me to add a bit of rose bubble bath to the water?”

  Erick washed his hands, brushed his teeth again, and gave Cassidy a bone-melting smile. “I’ve never had a bubble bath.”

  “If it’s too much, I can—”

  Shaking his head no, he said, “It’s perfect.”

  “Candlelight might relax you.” Cassidy wiped the dust off the candle that rested on the edge of the bathtub and smirked at Erick. “These might have been sitting here since the completion of the remodel.”

  Cassidy lit the candle. The light scent of rose from the bubbles echoed the candle’s aroma.

  After running a hand through the water, Cassidy pronounced, “The water’s ready.”

  Erick grabbed an elastic band from on the sink. “Mind if I…?”

  “No, of course not.”

  Erick piled his hair on top of his head in a messy bun.

  “You’re a work of art. Totally rad! Sorry, you must think I’m mental.” Cassidy spun back to turn off the water.

  Erick undid the fluffy white towel, let the fabric slowly unwind from his body, and held the terry cloth in front of him just as Cassidy shifted back around.

  Cassidy opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

  Erick pressed his lips together, frozen between the desire to be bold and display his body, and a pathetic innocence that made him want to hide. He hung the towel on the brass hook, stepped into the tub, and slipped beneath the bubbles.

  He tried to be quick, but he wasn’t fast enough for Cassidy to miss Erick’s erection. God, the ache outweighed his embarrassment.

  Erick sank to his neck in bubbles and then without thinking of his updo submerged his head under the water for a few seconds.

  “You have soap bubbles sticking to your hair. Afterward you can shower, but here, let me help you.” Cassidy took an old pitcher off the stool. “It’ll please Beau if I put this to use since he insisted the pitcher completed the image of Paris he wanted to capture.”

  “Sure.” Erick’s voice broke and squeaked on the word. He pulled the elastic out of his hair.

  Cassidy filled the pitcher with warm water. Releasing the liquid slowly over Erick’s hair, Cassidy rinsed the suds out and then finger combed his hair.

  Erick shivered. Cassidy’s touch excited him. Though spending the last day and a half with Cassidy had him craving way more. More caresses, gazes, palms touching… more of everything.

  Cassidy sat down on the stool behind Erick and massaged his shoulders, making him feel boneless. And he couldn’t ignore the devastating eroticism of taking a bubble bath while a clothed Cassidy sat nearby.

  Turning around in the water, Erick now faced Cassidy as he peeked over the back of the tub. His heart stopped as he glanced into Cassidy’s beautiful eyes before his attention focused on Cassidy’s lips. They looked so soft. He licked his own and whispered, “Thank you.”

  “Here, let me wash your back.” Cassidy pumped some rose shower gel into the unused puffy net sponge and ran it down Erick’s back.

  “Mmmm.” Erick arched his back into Cassidy’s ministrations. Did the movement make Erick’s bottom breach the surface of the bubbles? Probably not but God, the idea of displaying himself for Cassidy turned him on wickedly. He’d never been all that sexually expressive even in his fantasies but right now….

  Cassidy remained on the task at hand and platonically scrubbed Erick’s back.

  Erick tilted and shifted to allow access. All the while his lips were a mere foot away from Cassidy’s perfect mouth. The inviting lips were dark pink, lush, and full. He craved a kiss; one kiss wouldn’t hurt.

  Who w
as he kidding? The press of those lips against his might kill him.

  Cassidy took the hints of Erick’s shifts and twists as to where to scrub next and covered every inch of Erick’s back three times. He should be mortified how his movements translated into his twitching ass, but he wasn’t.

  He wanted Cassidy in the worst way. Maybe he was out of his mind with lust. This was so much more than simple desire. He craved their connection and togetherness like an addiction.

  The stoic Cassidy poured warm water on Erick, chasing the bubbles off his back. His breathing was the only tell that said Erick wasn’t alone in his attraction. But why wasn’t Cassidy acting on it?

  Maybe Erick should stop his butt from popping up as if he were begging for attention. Though when the liquid flowed around and in between the space between his cheeks, he ached to be touched.

  He felt safe. Erick didn’t give his trust easily, so the fact that he surrendered it to Cassidy bent Erick’s mind and twined their connection stronger.

  His low groan echoed in the bathroom. “God, the warm water feels incredible.”

  The water became an extension of Cassidy. The liquid tenderly caressed Erick where Cassidy did not.

  Erick turned and crawled up the back of the tub, which put his lips a scant few inches from Cassidy’s mouth. He wreathed his wet arms around Cassidy’s neck, soaking his T-shirt. Cassidy’s breath teased Erick’s lips. If he leaned forward….

  “May I kiss you?” Erick’s voice cracked a little. He hoped Cassidy would say yes.

  Cassidy licked his lips. “Erick… I… yes.”

  Green light given. Erick closed the distance and pressed his mouth against Cassidy’s. The brush of their lips melted his heart, convincing him he’d never really been on the receiving end of such sweet affection.

  He traced his lips across every centimeter of Cassidy’s, learning they were as soft as they appeared.

  Erick parted his lips, inviting Cassidy in.

  Forget stereotypical fireworks, Erick was being torn apart with each sweep of Cassidy’s tongue.

  Somehow their kiss promised things to other parts of his body. Deepening the kiss made Erick’s heart race with possibilities that had zero potential of seeing the light of day.

  The water splashed, dousing the candle’s flame. Erick ignored the fact a bathtub wasn’t the only barrier between them.

  Slowly Cassidy pulled back, ending the kiss by separating from Erick’s clinging lips. He panted and began to roll Erick onto his back. “Turn over.”

  Erick did as requested and leaned back against the tub and into Cassidy’s arms. His erection throbbed.

  Cassidy whispered, “I want to make you feel good.”

  “Mmmm, you are.” Tipping his head back, Erick kissed him hard on the mouth.

  After a sweet eternity, Cassidy ended the kiss. “Will you let me give you release?”

  The oddly formal request wrapped around Erick’s heart and tightened. Though that didn’t prevent him from begging, “Yes, please.”

  Erick tilted his head and shifted back so he could kiss Cassidy with an open mouth. He offered his body, not just for satisfaction, but he surrendered his heart to Cassidy.

  Cassidy muttered, “It hurts me not to be with you in every way, but I desperately need to give you everything I can.”

  Erick didn’t know what he meant and lost the ability to reason out the words. Cassidy leaned over, allowing Erick to nestle into him. Erick used his teeth to graze Cassidy’s neck.

  “You and roses are delicious together.” Cassidy traced a soapy finger around one of Erick’s nipples, then the other. The teasing touch went from a whisper to firm. He circled until the rosy tips peaked into tight points, ready to be pinched.

  “Yes,” Erick wheezed the answer to the unasked question.

  Cassidy answered by squeezing each tip tight.

  Erick gasped. His writhing sloshed water to the floor. “So good.”

  When Cassidy started nibbling on Erick’s neck, Erick felt certain he’d go insane. Cassidy skimmed his hands over Erick’s torso and stopped before he reached his destination, proving insanity was a long ride with many peaks and plateaus.

  Cassidy grabbed the abandoned soapy net sponge and swirled around Erick’s erection.

  “Oh God!” Erick shivered and buried his face deeper into the crook of Cassidy’s shoulder. His movements morphed into thrusts.

  “Do you want me to…?” Cassidy asked, as if that might be an actual question with more than one answer.

  Erick thrust and panted, “Never wanted anything more.”

  Cassidy traced the soapy net along Erick’s throbbing shaft.

  Already on the edge, through groans, Erick begged, “Cassidy, please.”

  “Do you want me to rub you?” He teased Erick’s shaft with one finger.

  “Yes!” Erick trembled in his arms.

  Cassidy enclosed Erick in his fist and stroked him. Once, twice—

  “Almost.” All Erick’s control was gone.

  Cassidy was totally focused on getting him off. He seemed to need Erick’s orgasm almost as much as he did. “You close?”

  Erick arched, thrust, and then proclaimed, “I’m there. I’m so there.”

  He came in pleasure-filled pulses timed with Cassidy’s steady strokes. Again and again he shot. Finally, he shivered to completion. Erick sagged in Cassidy’s arms.

  Cassidy kissed Erick’s cheeks, eyelids, and jaw until his slack mouth returned the kisses.

  “Oh my God, you’re amazing.” He kissed Cassidy lips and hugged him tight. “I, um, never did that with anyone before.”

  “I’m elated to my soul to be the one to have given that to you.” Cassidy snuggled him, kissing his temple.

  Erick thrust an arm out of the bathtub and tried to reach for Cassidy. “Can I…? I want to make you feel good too.”

  “I do feel good. I loved doing that to you.” Turning to the side, Cassidy stood and retrieved a towel. “Let’s get you out of the tub. That water must be cold.”

  Colder than ice but not from the water. Erick didn’t move. The rejection stung. “Oh, you don’t want me to because… of your mate. Oh my God. Did I just cheat with you on your mate? Because—”

  “No, you didn’t. Of course not.” Cassidy pulled him upright and wrapped the towel around him. He grabbed another and began to dry him off further, probably because Erick wasn’t moving to dry himself.

  It made no sense. If this wasn’t about Cassidy’s mate…? He felt foolish. He’d opened himself up to Cassidy. He wanted to share the affection coursing through him by sharing pleasure with Cassidy. The why nailed him in the head. “Oh, you just don’t want me that way?”

  Cassidy pressed a soft, sweet kiss to his mouth. “You know that’s not true. I’m unable to….”

  “Okay.” Erick frowned but didn’t question him further. He shifted from foot to foot.

  “Um, would you be interested in a watching a movie?”

  Confused, hurt, and feeling lost, Erick pasted on a smile. “Sure.”

  “If you’re going to try to nap, I have a TV in my bedroom.”

  Erick followed him into the room as he was tormented by a long list of poor choices and bad ideas that he wished could play out on that bed with Cassidy. Maybe he should stay with Ethan.

  No, Cassidy got him like no one had, ever. Even if he were friend-zoned, he wanted to spend time with Cassidy. “I love the color scheme in here.”

  Cassidy smiled a little. “Thanks. Beau didn’t understand my request for two of the walls to be painted blue and two pink to until I showed Beau this comforter, he loved the choice. He convinced me if I wanted to do the blue-and-pink pattern, I should go all the way, which is why I have a matching canopy and curtains.”

  A soft blue comforter with big, fat pink roses, along with eight overstuffed pillows, topped the bed, making Erick remark, “Looks cozy.”

  Inviting and perfect. However, a cardboard box with Cassidy would appear a wonderful pla
ce to cuddle. No, he shouldn’t be hoping to snuggle someone who didn’t want him and belonged to another.

  Cassidy shifted from uncomfortably staring at the far wall, appearing vulnerable and a bit scared. “You know, looking around, I guess I’ve come out in lots of ways.”

  This was a positive admission, so Erick didn’t stop himself from following his instinct to hug Cassidy from behind. He pressed his lips to Cassidy’s shoulder. “It’s lovely and very you.”

  Cassidy touched his heart. “Your acceptance means a lot. Thanks.” Lifting the comforter and top sheet, he said, “I just changed the sheets yesterday.”

  In a bold move, albeit practical since he had nothing to wear, Erick whipped off his towel and slid into the bed.

  Cassidy tucked the blanket around him.

  “Mmmm, the bedding smells of roses.” Erick yawned, and through half-closed eyes, he watched Cassidy study him.

  Would he try to leave him alone in the bed?

  Erick couldn’t help himself. Maybe he was being selfish, but even if he couldn’t have all of Cassidy, he’d settle for a little. He opened his eyes. “You’ll stay in here with me, right? Or, um, unless you have things to do.”

  “There’s no place I’d rather be. What do you wanna watch?”

  “Whatever you want.” Erick really didn’t care.

  Cassidy stripped off his wet T-shirt and jeans, right down to his pink panties.

  “Are those lace?” Fuck, they were so pretty… not to mention hot.

  “Um… yeah.” Cassidy shifted from foot to foot, looking at the far wall.

  “Oh my God. You’re blushing.” For some reason that made Erick feel less immature.

  “Fifty-something zombies do not blush. That has to be against some sort of rule. I had forgotten I had these on. They’re my favorite pair.” Cassidy ran a hand over the side panel.

  “They’re so gorgeous.” Erick reached out.

  Cassidy’s “Eep!” stayed Erick’s hand that headed in the direction of the pink lace.

  Erick had never been this much of a grabby handsy perv. What was wrong with him? He just wanted to keep touching Cassidy. “Sorry.”

  “No worries.” Cassidy rolled into bed and pushed the picture over his headboard out to reveal a television on an accordion extension bar under the picture.